Top Ten Surprising Sources of Sodium

April 9, 2012

New report reveals surprising salt levels in common foods

New report reveals surprising salt levels in common foods

You may want to pass on adding a sprinkling of salt during your next meal. Chances are what you’re about to eat is already packed with sodium, even if it doesn’t taste particularly salty. A report from the Centers for Disease Control reveals that 65 percent of the sodium Americans eat every day is already in the food when it’s purchased and another 25 percent comes from dining in restaurants.

“Usually when I tell a patient that they should go on a low salt diet, they tell me they already are, but they’re probably not,” says Kimberly Harper, MD, a nephrologist at Scripps Health. “They don’t realize how much of it is already in their food.”

Where is all of this sodium coming from? The sources may be surprising. The top 10 sources of dietary sodium listed by the CDC include:

Breads and rolls

Cold cuts and cured meats

Pizza

Fresh and processed poultry

Soups

Sandwiches

Cheese

Pasta dishes

Mixed meat dishes, such as meat loaf

Savory snacks include chips and pretzels

The rise in sodium-laden meals is due largely to the increase in processed foods. Various forms of salt are used as preservatives to maintain the freshness and flavor. While pre-packaged and processed meals add convenience, they also add a tremendous amount of salt to the average American diet.

According to the CDC, 90 percent of Americans are eating more sodium than is recommended, at a rate of 3,300 mg per day. Recommended limits from the CDC are less than 2,300 mg per day and, for adults with certain health conditions like hypertension, less than 1,500 mg per day.

The hidden dangers of hidden salt

“For some people, a high salt diet doesn’t pose an immediate concern. But there are a lot of people who could develop serious conditions from eating too much salt, and they may not even know it,” notes Dr. Harper. “As we get older, we are more prone to developing high blood pressure, also called hypertension. It’s called the silent killer because it has no symptoms and it‘s a big risk factor for heart disease, strokes, kidney disease and ultimately death. A diet high in salt can also increase the risk for osteoporosis, kidney stones, and exacerbate heart failure."

In addition to contributing to hypertension, eating a lot of salt can make blood pressure medications less effective. Reducing the salt can reduce the amount of prescription medications, which means lower costs and fewer risks for side effects.

A low salt diet means more than skipping the salt shaker

“Reducing the amount of salt you eat starts with getting rid of the salt shaker,” says Dr. Harper. “But that’s not enough. People need to be aware of where the salt is coming from by reading labels and reducing or eliminating those foods. It helps to cook more fresh vegetables and meats at home and use things like spices, garlic, lemon and other flavors instead of salt.”

At first, a drastic reduction in salt may make food seem tasteless. Fortunately, taste buds adapt to a level of salt, so after two or three weeks, food will start having flavor again. This also means that previous, high-salt foods will start to taste too salty.